Masaiti by-election campaigns heat up

Patriotic Front-PF Copperbelt Provincial Information and Publicity Secretary Amon Chisenga has said the PF will embark on a door-to door campaign in Masaiti after Acting President Inonge Wina’s rally in Masaiti tomorrow.

And campaigns in the April 14th Masaiti by–elections have heated up with the PF confident of scooping the seat and UPND promising to develop the area while UNIP says it will improve on the education sector in the area if elected.

Mr. Chisenga told ZANIS in Ndola in an interview today that PF would carry the day on April 14.

“From today we are going into full gear in the campaigns and after the rally by the Acting President. We are comfortable at the moment because we are on the ground doing everything possible to reach every voter because what we need to do is to start door to door campaigns to reach every villager in Masaiti and Mwambashi in Chambeshi district, because we have two by-elections at the moment. We are confident of scooping the seats,’’ Mr. Chisenga said.

Mr. Chisenga however said that PF candidate Michael Katambo would not be affected by the fact that the seat was nullified owing to corruption practices saying the tag of corruption was in the MMD as a party and not Mr. Katambo as an individual.

“To say our candidate in Masaiti was not accepted by our members is not correct. The petition was as a result of MMD the party being corrupt, we cannot blame an individual when the party has got wide spread corruption issues, it was MMD and not Katambo as an individual,” Mr Chisenga said.

And UPND candidate Peter Mumba said once elected he would develop Masaiti which he said was lagging behind in terms of development.

“So far we have not witnessed any violence which is a very good thing. I hope that this can continue. Masaiti is lagging behind in terms of development. I have an upper hand because they have tried Katambo and he failed them, so I’m rating myself highly,” Mr. Mumba said.

Meanwhile, UNIP candidate Lason Musumali said he would build more schools in the area once elected as Member of Parliament for Masaiti.

“Once elected, I will build schools to reduce on distances our children cover and I will also ensure that cooperatives for farmers are formed,” Mr. Musumali said.